Flintoff back for England

Andrew Flintoff will play his first Test for 18 months after England captain Michael Vaughan confirmed the all-rounder has been named in the team to play South Africa in the second Test, starting here at Headingley on Friday.

Flintoff has not played Test cricket for 18 months, because of a combination of ankle and side injuries, since captaining the side during a defeat against Australia at Sydney in January 2007 which saw England lose the Ashes 5-0.

England have fielded the same team for a world record six successive Tests. But although Vaughan said Flintoff would bat at No 7, he did not reveal who he would replace in the side that drew the first Test at Lord's.

Vaughan said left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom was still struggling with the back strain that hampered him at Lord's and that, as a consequence, England would not name their side until the morning of the match in order to give the Nottinghamshire seamer time to prove his fitness.

England have added Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett to their 12-man squad as a cover for Sidebottom.